Brian, They are part of my duck hunting heritage. Back in the mid to late 60's (when I was REALLY young ) the coots overran our lake in Indiana. Opening morning would come and many boats with hunters would be all over the lake. Once the shooting began you could shoot lots of shells to get I believe a limit of 25. Good practice for my wing shooting.....if they did that shoot today peta would be doing a documentary on it!!! I am sure you could mount one right up but all 3 fought me tooth and nail??? Doug

Doug, would you believe out of over 1000 bird mounts I don't have one either, like Brian! One of those things I just haven't go around to doing but should. Nice presentation on a ridiculous anatomical nightmare. Going to do one some time. Good job.

I've had one in the freezer for ten years ready to mount. Bought the eyes about five years ago, and never pulled the trigger. Doug and I talked on the phone about them, and agree they are a pretty cool looking bird. To this day, My Son Hunter thinks they are the coolest of all the birds I have. It has more to do with their reptilian looking legs and feet and the fact I he talked me into swatting one when it swam past, but their slate colored feather reminds me of a harlequin in certain instances.

I like it, Doug. I want one mounted in a dead mount with a couple other birds, and I'd like to have a nice display like that too. They're cool birds that are really a pretty big part of the waterfowling backdrop. How many times they've moved to the others side of a duck hole and competitively attracted ducks on a still day is anyone's guess, and they've helped put a smile on bored kid's face in our blind on more than one slow morning, too!

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